News

Federal Shark Fin Ban Introduced in Canada

WildAid welcomes the news that Canadian Member of Parliament Fin Donnelly announced federal legislation banning the trade in shark fin. This is the first import ban initiated by a national government in the western hemisphere.

We applaud his leadership as a strong example of a federally elected official taking action to counter plummeting shark populations worldwide," said Rob Sinclair, Executive Director of WildAid Canada.

Shark fin soup is a key reason why one-third of the worlds shark species are now threatened with extinction. Fins from up to 73 million sharks are used every year to make shark fin soup, an Asian delicacy that fetches up to USD$100 per bowl.

While the practice of shark finning is prohibited in Canada and the U.S., current federal laws banning shark finning do not address the issue of the international shark fin trade. Therefore, fins are being imported to North America from countries with few or even no shark protections in place.

U.S. bans have passed recently in California, Hawaii, Washington and Oregon. The Canadian cities of Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville, Pickering and Brantford have also passed similar bans.